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Long-Term Trend
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Trends in Average Reading Scale Scores by Race/Ethnicity: White-Black Gap

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KEY FINDINGS
  • At all three ages, Black students' average reading scores in 2004 were higher than in 1971. 
  • Nine-year-olds. Both White and Black students scored higher in 2004 than in any previous assessment year.
    • The White-Black gap decreased between 1971 (44 points) and 2004 (26 points).
  • Thirteen-year-olds. The average scores of both White and Black students were significantly higher in 2004 than in 1971.
    • The White-Black gap in 2004 (22 points) was smaller than in 1971 (39 points).
  • Seventeen-year-olds. Black students' average score was higher in 2004 than in 1971, while White students' scores in 1971 and 2004 were not statistically different.
    • The gap between White and Black students was smaller in 2004 (29 points) than in 1971 (53 points). 

Trends in average reading scale scores and score gaps for White students and Black students ages 9, 13, and 17: 1971–2004 click for additional information

Trends in average reading scale scores and score gaps for White students and Black students age 9: Selected years, 1971–2004

Trends in average reading scale scores and score gaps for White students and Black students age 13: Selected years, 1971–2004

Trends in average reading scale scores and score gaps for White students and Black students age 17: Selected years, 1971–2004

View data with standard errors for age 9, age 13, and age 17.

* Significantly different from 2004.
1 White average scale score minus Black average scale score.
NOTE: Score gaps are calculated based on differences between unrounded average scale scores.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), selected years, 1971–2004 Long-Term Trend Reading Assessments.

View the trends in average reading scale scores by race/ethnicity: White-Hispanic gap.

See more long-term trend student group results.

Return to long-term trend results.

Last updated 06 July 2005 (RF)